#15: Write Thank You Letters

It's not too late to send people thank you letters from Christmas.

Or maybe you had a birthday recently. Why not send people a note saying thank you and how much you are enjoying your new gift? They are sure to appreciate it!

If you haven't gotten a gift recently, or have already written your thank yous, why not write a simple thank you to someone who has done something that has made you feel good. Maybe they did something nice and you are still thinking about it. Send them a note! It doesn't have to be long or fancy. For example:

Dear Mom,
Thank you for cleaning my room for me. I sure like being able to find my homework! It also smells nice.
Love,
Your daughter


This activity promotes thankfulness and manners.

#14: Draw on Someone's Back

With your finger, gently draw on someone’s back.

Their job, if they don't get the shiveries, is to guess what you are drawing or writing.


This activity promotes bonding.

#13: Look at a Map

Take a look at a map (or globe if you have one). Where do you live? What are some interesting places that you would like to visit? See if you can find places for each letter of the alphabet. Is there a place that starts with 'A'? 'B?' Which letter is it the hardest to find?

If you have an atlas with lots of different kinds of maps, take a look at those too. If there is a precipitation map (amount of rain that falls in different areas), who gets the most rain? Who gets the least? Compare the differences.


This activity promotes directional skills as well as promotes literacy and visual literacy.

#12: Duck, Duck, Goose

You will need 4-10 people to play this game. (You can play with fewer people or more people, but it isn't quite as much fun.)

Everyone sits in a circle, facing in. One player is chosen to start the game. They walk around the outside of the circle and touch each player on the head while saying "duck". If they say "goose" instead of "duck", the player who was called "goose" must jump up and run around the circle in the opposite direction than the player that called them "goose". Both players are racing for the empty sitting spot in the circle. Whoever gets there first, sits down. The player who doesn't have anywhere to sit now goes around the circle saying “duck” or “goose”.

If there is a tie (the two racing players get to the sitting spot at the same time), the person who was called "goose" gets the spot and the other player has to go around again, choosing a new "goose".

Have fun!


This activity promotes physical activity and group play.

#11: Make Your Own Club

Get some friends together and make a club. Do you all like to fingerpaint? Make a fingerpainting club. Maybe you all like to climb trees, make forts, play dress-up or play Uno. Whatever you like to do together--make it a club.

You'll need to give your club a name. If you want you can give yourself club nicknames. Hold meetings, get new members, make your own newsletter, create a secret handshake, have challenges...anything you want!

For example:
The Tree Climbing Club
Members are called 'Squirrels'.
The members are Squirrel Anna, Squirrel Mark, Squirrel Jennifer and Squirrel Alex.
Every Saturday the club gets together to climb different trees in the neighbourhood. Each week someone different chooses which tree they will climb. They have a booklet they have made on the best kinds of trees to climb, the best things to wear (or not wear) when climbing a tree as well as some tree climbing tips.


This activity promotes cooperation.

#10: Make Animals Out of Pipe Cleaners

Be creative with pipe cleaners. Make animals by twisting and bending pipe cleaners together. Can you make a whole zoo full of animals? If you have googly eyes, you can glue some on like in the photo below.

Have fun!

Note: You can find pipe cleaners in arts and craft stores as well as most dollar stores and department stores that have craft sections.

This activity promotes creativity and eye-hand coordination (fine motor skills) in smaller children.

#9: Flip a Coin

Take a coin and flip it up into the air. Try and catch it. Without looking at it, flip it over and the back of your hand--then peek at it.

Is it heads or tails?

'Heads' has the picture of the person on it, the other side (usually a plant or animal) is 'tails'.

See how many times you get heads and how many times you get tails.

If you have someone else to play with, ask them to guess if it is heads or tails before you flip it (while you are throwing it in the air and before you show it).


This activity promotes coordination and math skills.